<p>I'm looking at a few of these schools, and just wondering what the consensus was as to how well regarded their political science departments are.
I can surmise that UMich would be first, followed by Wisconsin than maybe OSU or Mich. State. I'm looking at MSU's James Madison College for public policy, so this may improve their appeal to me.</p>
<p>FWIW, US News ranks the Big Ten political science departments (graduate programs) as follows (overall national ranking):</p>
<p>Michigan #3
Ohio State #13
Wisconsin #16
Minnesota #18
Northwestern #21
Michigan State #22
Illinois #22
Indiana #25
Iowa #25
Penn State #35</p>
<p>A lot of quality in that group. Only Purdue doesn't make the cut.</p>
<p>I think for undergrad Wisconsin is much better then OSU and probably pretty close to michigan. I think northwestern may be ahead of OSU too (for undergrad)</p>
<p>Depending on your stats, I think Northwestern would be a good choice. The related fields to poly sci at Northwestern are very good. This may be a good choice, if you can afford it, considering the economy. Good luck.</p>
<p>Michigan's Political Science department is among the top 5 in the US. For American Politics, it is generally considered #1.</p>
<p>If I had to rank Political Science departments in the Big 10 (FOR UNDERGRADS), I would go with the following (keep in mind that the gap between each level is tiny):</p>
<h1>1 University of Chicago (not part of the Big 10 Athletic conference, but part of the CIC; the academic arm of the Big 10)</h1>
<h1>1 University of Michigan-Ann Arbor</h1>
<h1>3 Northwestern University</h1>
<h1>3 University of Wisconsin-Madison</h1>
<h1>5 Michigan State University</h1>
<h1>5 Ohio State University</h1>
<h1>7 Indiana University-Bloomington</h1>
<h1>7 University of Illinois-Urbana Champaign</h1>
<h1>7 University of Iowa</h1>
<h1>7 University of Minnesota-Twin Cities</h1>
<h1>11 Pennsylvania State University-University Park</h1>
<h1>12 Purdue University-West Lafayette</h1>
<p>With the exception of Purdue, all Big 10 universities have good/great Political Science departments so you really can't go wrong.</p>
<p>Keep in mind that Political Science is a very popular undergraduate major, so Political Science classes at all those universities listed above, even at Chicago, will tend to be large.</p>
<p>^poor purdue. :rolleyes:</p>
<p>go to Ohio State, Wisconsin, Michigan State, or Illinois for Political Science</p>
<p>Out of these, pick Michigan State because it has the best political science program in the state!</p>
<p>everybody hates purdue. it's unfair really.</p>
<p>Nah..it's just that it's more of an engineering and agriculture school, so you can't expect it to have a great poli sci program, anyways. It's good and what it specializes in and that's what matters, i guess.</p>
<ol>
<li>Michigan State University</li>
<li>University of Michigan- Ann Arbor</li>
</ol>
<p>anybody else?</p>
<p>It also depends upon your interests.</p>
<p>"US News and World Report's latest rankings for Graduate Programs in Political Science ranked OSU's Political Science Department 13th overall, with the American Politics Section 5th, International Politics 12th, and Political Methodology 10th. "</p>
<p>So OSU has a very strong program (this is grad, but it's all the same professors) in American Politics when compared with its other programs. I'd agree with bclintonk's ratings - I think other people are just ranking based on their perceptions of the entire school when they are perhaps unfamiliar with the individual programs.</p>
<p>Anyone else?</p>
<p>Do keep George Washington University in mind. It ranks 41 on US News and World Report, but think of how valid that ranking is. It's a university with a large political science faulty, in the heart (I mean heart) of DC - it's located 4 blocks away from the White House, is neighbors with International Monetary Fund, State Department, and so on and on and on.</p>
<p>Remember that if you read political science annual reviews and journals, GWU always makes top 20. Which ranking do you think matters more to political science graduate admission committees? US News and World, or political science journals?</p>
<p>I'm a completely biased graduate of JMC at MSU, but I have to say it's an excellent program.</p>
<p>Compared to the rest of the Big Ten, it really has to come down to preference. James Madison isn't really PoliSci, it's public affiars (I didn't understand the difference until about my junior year.)</p>
<p>Michigan and Wisconsin would be better choices if you're interested in a more theoretical, academic study of political science.</p>
<p>(Again, totally biased, but...) the James Madison program is (except for one large freshman seminar) entirely taught by full professors in classrooms with no more than thirty (usually between 15-25) students. It made my education much better, so I'd recommend that.</p>
<p>asymptote - could you elaborate on the difference between public affairs and political science? I'm thinking of majoring in political theory / constitutional democracy at JMC, what are the important differences between that and a political science major (At MSU or somewhere like UVA or UMich)?</p>
<p>What majors does James Madison offer?</p>
<p>Bump to this old thread</p>
<p>
[quote]
What majors does James Madison offer?
[/quote]
Political Theory/Constitutional Democracy
International Relations
Social Relations and Policy
Comparative cultures or something like that</p>
<p>Here's the Big 10 rankings for political science according to the Gourman Report</p>
<p>UMich
Wisconsin
Minnesota
Northwestern
Indiana
Ohio State
UIUC
Iowa
Michigan State
Purdue/Penn State (Not Ranked)</p>
<p>Even though Michigan State doesn't rank that high, you should definitely look into James Madison College there.</p>
<p>the london school of economics ranked ohio state's political science department as fourth in the world.</p>